First Date

Until just recently I didn't even know this picture existed! Here are Jared and I on our first date. We had gone on a double date with our friends Blayne and Rachel to eat at Los Hermanos and then to shoot some pool. I was corresponing with Rachel last week and she thought she remembered seeing a picture of us she had taken that night, so she found it and sent it to me.

I was definitely interested in Jared and had a great time that night, but what is so cute about this picture is what you can clearly see in Jared's eyes. It was only our first date but somehow he knew! Can you all see that look in his eyes also that says "this is the one, the women that will bear my children and spend the rest of eternity with me!"

Bradley turns 2

Bradley had his second birthday last week. I can't believe it's already been two years since he was our little baby.

I made him a dump truck cake. When Mackayla saw it she said "It could use some touch-ups. Were you holding the baby when you did it?" I actually wasn't holding the baby but it did look like it. :) The kids loved it anyway.

He had been practising blowing out his candles for weeks and did a great job.

The birthday boy with his presents.

Mackayla and Bradley opened every gift together, singing "whats going to work? TEAM WORK!" from wonderpets.

Mackayla saw these car slippers at the store a long time ago and just had to get them from Bradley's birthday. He's also trying on his new big boy underwear in this picture.

He loved his his new tool set.

And so did Jacob

Playing with more gifts.

He got a scooter also.

Mackayla has been very in to designing her own hair styles lately. This is a common request from her... two braids on the top of the sides made into loops.

The boys taking a nap with mom

Fabulous Fall

We're all ready for Halloween

Our first tree. Jared planted it this weekend.

Our smiley little pumpkin

The kids got dressed and went swimming one afternoon last week. Imaginations are great!

I've been trying to start exercising again lately and so the kids have been very into it also. Here are a couple of pictures of them helping Jared out with his push-ups.

We made a slide last week, going down the stairs and the kids had a great time with it!

Silly little boys

Watching a movie with Grandma

I know there isn't a lot of writing on this post but we have three little kids and I'm too tired to include much more. Goodnight!

Jacob's Blessing

Our family on Jacob's blessing day.

We blessed Jacob last Sunday and had a wonderful day with family here.

He looked so handsome in his blessing outfit from his Grandma Jones (same one Bradley wore).

Grandpa and Grandma Hatfield

Grandpa and Grandma Jones

Jacob with his Father and Grandfathers

Jacob and Great Grandma Jones with the beautiful blanket she made him.

We are loving the arrival of fall... the cool air, warm clothes, apple crisp, spicey smells and the beautiful colors make us love this time of year. We took a ride up the canyon with Jared's family to see the autumn colors.

Jared's parents came on Thursday and stayed until Tuesday. My parents came on Saturday and stayed clear through this weekend so they could attend general conference. We LOVE having grandparents here! It's so wonderful to see the kids playing with and loving their grandparents. We're so glad they came to visit and sure hope they come back soon!!

busy busy busy

This is our most recent family portrait. I took it myself and this was the best one. Hopefully after this weekend we'll have some that are a little more centered. :)

Life has been fun but CRAZY as I'm still adjusting to three little ones. I'm usually desperately searching for a free moment to use the bathroom or something. I'm finding it nearly impossible to get out of the house most days and am really craving some more social interaction. I make frequent calls to my mom or sisters while I'm nursing and that is about the only way I'm able to interact with other adults during the days.

I spend half of my day changing diapers, am always covered in spit-up and daily showers have once again become a thing of the past so my life is certainly not glamorous but it is still wonderful. Everyday is also filled with lots of wonderful moments. It's so fun to see how well Mackayla and Bradley play together (inbetween their fights) and they both love their baby brother. Mackayla and I have been working hard on reading and writing and she's doing so well. Its the best feeling to watch her be able to read words and to bring me a piece of paper and show me the words she has written. Bradley is a litle bundle of energy and is always making us laugh. He's always trying to do things "just like daddy." Jacob is just getting to the stage where he's starting to smile at us and of course that is absolutely thrilling to us all. And the most joyous moment of any day is when we're all watching out the window and see Daddy's truck pull in the driveway. The kids clap and cheer and I breathe a sigh of relief , knowing that I survived another day. Although Mackayla is still our very emotional girl, Bradley is becoming quite the fit-throwing toddler, and Jacob doesn't want to sleep during the days anymore, they are constantly reminding me of why I love being their mother.

Daddy and the boys after church.

Brothers

Trying to capture a smile from Jacob

He's still a devoted BYU fan even if they had a bad game.

Mackayla still loves to go into my closet and find my dress up clothes

Our sweet baby Jacob

Last Saturday Jared took Mackayla on a "special fishing trip" They left at 5:30 in the morning and drove up to the lake for the morning. They even caught a little fish. Mackayla thought it was the most wonderful day and still can't stop talking about it. This is the only picture Jared took.

Mackayla has decided she loves taking pictures and the next couple are pictures she's taken of Jacob and me.

Enjoying a rainy day

Another family picture without me.

Last week we had our primary program. Our primary is huge and with well over 100 kids participating in the program, Mackayla was the star of the show (in our opinions)! She said her line loud and clear and looked adorable up there. Here is a video of her saying her line after church. Isn't she talented?!?!

Bradley wanted a turn to say her part also. It's a little hard to understand him though since he insisted the "microphone" needed to be IN his mouth.

SEPTEMBER

We drove up American Fork Canyon on Labor Day and Jared got to try to do a little fishing.


It was VERY windy and sunny so I had to sit in the car with Jacob most of the time. I tried to venture out once with Jacob covered up in the baby carrier.

Playing by the lake


We went up with Kevin and his kids. Kevin has a canoe and he let Jared take the kids for a little ride.

(taken from inside the car)

Tummy Time! Whenever Jacob has tummy time the others like to join in.

We recreated a picture with Jacob that we had taken of Bradley.

BROTHERS:

Jacob

Bradley

GO BYU! We were having so much fun listening to the BYU game on the radio, Mackayla decided to be the cheerleader.

Whenever I ask Mackayla to take a picture of Jared and I she replies that she's too young and will take our picture when she turns four. The other day she decided to be brave and take a picture of us. She did good for her first time.

Last week Jared heard Mackayla up early in the morning and went to check on her. She was getting her play camera to go and take a picture of her bed. She was so proud of herself because she had gotten up and made her bed all by herself and was going to take a picture of it. Jared got the real camera and took the picture for her.

Bradley loves to mow the lawn with Jared. You would think he'd get bored after a little while but he followed Jared around the entire time trying to do exactly what his dad was doing.